Removing Host Trees To Eradicate 

Asian Longhorned Beetle

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and 

Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and partners are 

working to eradicate the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) in 

four areas: Worcester County, MA; central Long Island, NY; 

Clermont County, OH; and Charleston and Dorchester 

Counties in South Carolina. ALB is an invasive insect that 

feeds on a wide variety of trees, eventually killing them. 

The only way to eradicate this pest and protect natural 

resources is to remove infested and, sometimes, at-risk 

host trees. The following is a quick reference for property 

owners and residents who have questions about this work.

Why do you have to remove trees to eradicate ALB?

ALB larvae burrow deep into trees, where they feed and 

continue to grow until they re-emerge as adult beetles. 

Insecticides cannot reach them inside the tree. The only 

way to eliminate the pest is by removing and destroying 

the tree. 

Is it possible to only remove the infested part of 

a tree?

If one part of a tree is infested, other areas of the same 

tree are also likely infested. The only way to eliminate 

the pest is to remove and destroy the entire tree. 

Do you only remove infested trees?

In some cases, we may recommend removing high-risk 

host trees located within one-half mile of infested trees 

because they could have an undetected infestation. If 

you do not want us to remove the high-risk host trees on 

your property, we will continue to inspect them and

remove them only if they become infested. We may also 

need to remove other trees to access the ALB-infested 

and high-risk host trees.

What are ALB host trees?

Host trees are trees in which ALB can complete its 

lifecycle. In the United States, ALB host trees include 

ash (Fraxinus), birch (Betula), elm (Ulmus), golden 

raintree (Koelreuteria), horse chestnut/buckeye 

(Aesculus), katsura (Cercidiphyllum), London 

planetree/sycamore (Platanus), maple (Acer), mimosa 

(Albizia), mountain ash (Sorbus), poplar (Populus), and 

willow (Salix). We most often find ALB infestations in 

maples, elms, and willows.

If you remove high-risk host trees from my 

property, do I have to worry about ALB again?

If we remove all ALB host trees from your property, the 

pest won’t have any host trees to attack. However, this 

will only last as long as the host trees do not regrow. If 

ALB is in the area, any host trees that grow large enough 

in size can become infested.

Do I have to pay to have the trees removed?

No, there is no cost to homeowners or residents.

How do you determine when a tree must be 

removed?

A tree is considered infested and must be removed when 

APHIS or State inspectors find any life stages of the 

insect, such as larvae, pupae, or an adult beetle, or other 

signs of an ALB infestation, such as an egg site, exit hole, 

galleries, or tunneling. 

How will I know whether any of my trees must 

be removed?

We will notify the property owner in person and/or by 

mail after we confirm an infestation.

Removed tree inserted into woodchipper
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

PPQ-21-001 | Issued November 2021

What can I expect if my tree must be removed?

An ALB program-approved tree removal contractor will 

develop a tree removal and restoration work plan for your 

property. You will have an opportunity to review, provide 

input, and sign off on the plan before they remove any 

host trees. The plan is not a contract, but it is a way for 

you to communicate any concerns in writing and receive 

assurances that these concerns will be addressed. 

Contractors work closely with landowners to ensure their 

concerns are addressed before, during, and after trees are 

removed from the property. 

Who removes the trees?

Licensed tree removal specialists perform this work under 

APHIS or State supervision. For information on who is 

providing this work in your State, contact your local ALB 

Eradication Program office by calling 1-866-702-9938, or 

visit www.AsianLonghornedBeetle.com (click on 

“Quarantines” for State-specific information).

When do tree removals happen?

Tree removal contractors typically remove trees between 

7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Property 

owners may arrange to have tree removal work done 

outside of these times, if necessary.

How are trees removed?

Using the proper safety equipment, tree removal 

contractors typically cut down the trees with chain saws. 

They may use a crane, bucket truck, and rope to make 

sure the trees don’t damage nearby structures or 

vegetation during the removal process. They will either 

chip the limbs, branches, and trunk onsite using a 

woodchipper or take it to an approved disposal yard for 

incineration or chipping.

What happens to the stumps of removed trees?

Because the beetle can infest tree stumps, the tree 

removal contractor will either remove and grind the 

stumps or treat them with an herbicide to prevent 

regrowth. However, in areas prone to soil erosion or in 

sensitive wildlife habitats, the contractors will cut stumps 

as low to the ground as possible and leave them to regrow.

Can I keep the wood chips?

Yes, property owners who ask for the wood chips may 

keep them.

How does the contractor restore the area after 

tree removal?

After the contractor removes trees from yards and 

landscaped areas, they may grind stumps, replace 

topsoil, grade the area, and seed groundcover. When 

trees are removed in woodlots or natural areas, the 

contractor will grade the soil and either seed 

groundcover, leave the wood chips, or keep the area as 

is to prevent the establishment of invasive weeds and 

help hold the soil in place. 

We can accommodate property owner restoration requests 

if they are within the scope of the removal contract. The 

tree removal contractor is not responsible for addressing 

concerns unrelated to tree removal activities.

What should I do if I think my property was not 

properly restored?

You should discuss your concerns with the tree removal 

contractor, APHIS, and/or our State partners. 

Do you replace removed trees?

Replanting programs vary by State. To find out if a 

replanting program is available in your area, call your 

local ALB Eradication Program office at 1-866-702-9938. 

For More Information

Learn more about ALB eradication efforts at 

www.AsianLonghornedBeetle.com. For local inquiries, 

or to speak with your USDA State Plant Health Director, 

call 1-866-702-9938.

Replanted trees in front of a school